Dear Parents/Guardians:
In the next few weeks, the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) will be administered to students in grades 2, 4, and 6, and any students who are new to District 103 in grades 3, 5, and 7. The CogAT evaluates the level and pattern of cognitive development of students, as well as their abilities in problem-solving using verbal, quantitative, and spatial (nonverbal) reasoning. The test is composed of multiple “Batteries”:
The “Verbal Battery” measures a child’s ability to remember and transform sequences of English words, to understand them, and to make inferences and judgments about them.
The “Quantitative Battery” tests the child's understanding of basic quantitative concepts and relationships that are essential for learning mathematics. Tasks measure both the understanding of relational concepts and the student’s ability to discover relationships and to figure out a rule or principle that explains them.
The “Nonverbal Battery” measures reasoning using pictures and geometric shapes. This reduces the impact of language on the student's score. The Nonverbal Battery also appraises the student’s ability to use her/his cognitive resources in new situations.
The abilities measured by this assessment reflect the overall efficiency of cognitive processes and strategies that enable an individual to learn new tasks or solve problems. Because these abilities are closely related to an individual’s success in school in virtually all subjects, CogAT test results are helpful in planning effective instructional programs and adapting instruction in ways that enhance the student’s chances of success in learning.
The results of this assessment will be mailed to you within a few weeks after completion of testing. The information gathered will not be used in any calculation of report card grades, and since there is no way for students to “study” or prepare for this assessment, we ask that you help us keep this test as stress free as possible. To obtain the most reliable results, we want to foster a relaxed, positive environment.
